ParaTranspo challenges at Carleton University
The list of frustrations that people who use ParaTranspo deal with is long.
But here is a small problem that can and should be fixed.
When people are booking rides to Carleton University, they are asked to specify which BUILDING they are going to from a drop-down menu. Seems simple enough … but, the drop down menu for dispatch indicates STOP NUMBERS.
This means that mistakes are common.
On Saturday, June 3rd, Carleton University hosted the Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sports Expo as part of National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). This event is one of the largest inclusive sporting expos in Ottawa, and an event which would naturally draw a large number of ParaTranspo users.
A number of people struggled to find their bus stop; a number of drivers ended up at the wrong bus stop. Drivers had to return to find their customers. Resources were wasted. People were left stranded on a hot summer’s day.
The lack of coordination and accommodation by OC Transpo has once again relegated ParaTranspo users as an afterthought when it comes to public transit in Ottawa. More egregiously, it comes during a week when the City of Ottawa was promoting National AccessAbility Week.
We ask the Transit Commission to urge OC Transpo to work with program developers to ensure that the menu for ParaTranspo customers matches the menus used by the dispatch system.
This is Ottawa - the capital city of a G7 nation in 2023 - surely we can get something so simple right.
Enough is Enough! Major's Hill on Saturday June 3rd
Just letting you know that members of Ottawa Transit Riders will be staffing a table at the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Day of Action “Enough is Enough!” on Major’s Hill Park on Saturday, June 3rd.
Click here for more details.
Come by and say “Hi!”
Juste un petit rappel que des membres du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa tiendront une table à la journée d’action « assez, c’est assez » organisé par la Fédération du travail de l’Ontario samedi, le 3 juin. L’événement sera dans le parc Major’s Hill.
Cliquez ici pour plus de détails
Venez nous rendre visite et dire « Bonjour ! »
Practice Rack-n-roll at Tunney’s Pasture
OC Transpo buses have bike racks that allow people to ride their bikes in one direction or part-way and take transit the rest of the way. It’s a model that encourages active transportation and provides choice.
Are you curious about trying these bike racks, but unsure how to load/unload your bike?
OC Transpo offers a practice rack where you can test it out.
Right now, the practice bike rack is located at Tunney's Pasture Station, on the right side of the Scott Street entrance.
For more details, check out the OC Transpo website
Tous les autobus d’OC Transpo seront équipés d’un support pour bicyclettes qui permettra aux cyclistes de continuer à faire un bout en autobus, et le reste à vélo. C'est un modèle qui encourage le transport actif et offre un choix.
Vous êtes curieux d'essayer ces supports pour vélos, mais vous ne savez pas comment charger/décharger votre vélo ?
OC Transpo met une unité les aide à apprendre sans pression.
Pour l'instant, le support Vélo-bus pour apprentissage situé à la station Tunney's Pasture, à droite de l'entrée de la rue Scott.
Pour plus de détails, consultez le site Web d'OC Transpo.
Route Review City Hall June 1st
As you may have heard, OC Transpo is conducting a review of routes. This is a great opportunity for people who care about transit to have our voices heard. Attend the sessions if you can and tell OC Transpo what you want to see in a truly world-class transit system.
The next session is Thursday, June 1st at City Hall from 6:30-8:30. Click here for details and to register.
Comme vous l'avez peut-être entendu, OC Transpo procède à un examen des circuits d’autobus. C'est une excellente occasion pour les personnes qui s'intéressent aux transports en commun de faire entendre leur voix. Assistez aux séances si vous le pouvez et dites à OC Transpo ce que vous attendez d'un système de transport en commun de classe mondiale.
La prochaine séance aura lieu le jeudi 1er juin à l'hôtel de ville, de 18 h 30 à 20 h 30. Cliquez sur le lien pour plus de détails et pour vous inscrire.
Vanier Bus Route Town Hall / Réunion sur les routes de transports publics
On Thursday, May 25th at 7PM, councillor Stéphanie Plante will host a town hall to discuss bus routes. It’s an opportunity to express your concerns about transit and to discuss and debate what we want improved.
Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre / Centre communautaire Richelieu Vanier
300 des pères blancs avenue
Le jeudi 25 mai à 19 h, la conseillère Stéphanie Plante tiendra une assemblée publique pour discuter des circuits d'autobus. C'est l'occasion d'exprimer vos préoccupations concernant le transport en commun et de discuter et débattre de ce que nous voulons améliorer.
OC Transpo’s Bus Route Review – Orléans on Wed May 17th
OC Transpo is conducting a Bus Route Review, asking people for feedback on what we want from our transit system.
You can complete an online survey and participate in several in-person “open houses” at different locations.
Tonight (Wednesday, May 17th) there is an Open House at Ray Friel CC in Orleans. Register here:
OC Transpo procède à un examen des circuits d’autobus d’OC Transpo, en demandant aux gens de fournir nos commentaires sur ce que nous attendons de notre système de transport en commun.
Vous pouvez répondre à un sondage en ligne et participer à plusieurs séances portes ouvertes en personne à différents endroits.
Ce soir (mercredi 17 mai), une séance portes ouvertes est organisée au Ray Friel CC à Orléans. Inscrivez-vous ici :
Sandy Hill EcoFair on Saturday
Just a quick reminder that members of Ottawa Transit Riders will be staffing a table at Sandy Hill’s Eco-Fair on Saturday, May 13th.
Come by and say “Hi!”
Juste un petit rappel que des membres du groupe des usagers de transport en commun d'Ottawa tiendront une table à la écofoire de la Côte-de-Sable samedi, le 13 mai.
Venez nous rendre visite et dire « Bonjour ! »
Reports from first two transit forums
As most members know, the Ottawa Transit Riders have been hosting transit forums in various neighbourhoods to ask locals about their experiences, needs, and hopes for better transit. Here are the reports from our first two events: the forum in Kanata that was held in January and the forum in Orleans that was held in March.
Survey on ParaTranspo
So … OC Tranpso ran a survey asking transit riders about their experience using the LRT and buses, but they forgot to ask people who ride ParaTranspo about their experience.
We think that’s a mistake.
The Ottawa Transit Riders wants to know what works and what needs to be improved. What do you want us to advocate for?
Please take the following survey and let us know what you think of ParaTranspo service.
And if you want to get involved in fighting for more accessible transit, send us an email at [email protected]
Joint statement on potential cuts to transit
The Ottawa Transit Riders joined other community groups, such as Horizon Ottawa, Ecology Ottawa, and Free Transit Ottawa to call on the city to clarify their plan to address the hole in the transit budget.
You can read the statement on the Horizon Ottawa website: Joint Statement by Community Groups on the OC Transpo Budget Crisis.
City council approved a budget that had a $39 million hole in it on the assumption that either the Provincial or Federal government would provide additional funds. Sadly, neither government provided funds in their recent budgets to address this shortfall.
We are deeply concerned that this gap will mean cuts to service this year.
Transit in this city is already struggling to meet demands and further cutbacks will only make the situation worse.
Please read the statement and contact your own councillor or a councillor on the Transit Commission to express your concerns. We argue that the city needs to re-think spending money on road-widening during a climate emergency, and re-direct those funds to transit, which is an essential service.